Explosive.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEBBHOM MOORE PETERS, OJ? CINCINNATI, AND MILTON FLETCHER 'LINDSLEY, OF KINGS HILLS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE KING POWDER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OHIO.

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Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

- No Drawing. Application filed December 6, 1907, Serial No. 405,362. Renewed October 20, 1910. Serial To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that,we, GEnsHoM Moons PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, and M1LT0N FLETCHER LINnsLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kings Mills, in the county of Warren and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosives, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates more particularly to explosives for blasting purposes, and of this class it has especial reference to the species required in mining operations.

The dangers to life from firing blasts in mines where explosive gases accumulate have caused the enactment of laws in many localities, prohibiting the use of blasting powders which emit flame or generate sufficient heat when fired to ignite these gases. Many attempts have been made to produce an explosive free from these defects, but as a rule the are open. to three main objections whic exclude them from general use, viz. they are too expensive to manufacture, they produce too much smoke and offensive gas, or they have to be fired by a d'etonating cap to the use of which the average miner is not accustomed and is greatly opposed.

This invention aims to avoid these objections and therefore has for its primary object to produce an explosive capable of being used like ordinary black-blasting powdenand other similar forms of ex losives, but which will possess in the required degree the necessary qualities of being free from objectionable flame and-heat, and will at the same time be reasonable in cost of production.

i A further object of the invention is to produce an explosive especially adapted for mine blasting purposes, which, when' ignited, will generate an excessive volume of steam, which will not only dampen down the heat and flame, but will slow down the action of the blast andmaterially increase the heaving power of the explosion.

With a view to the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of certain other objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention consists of an explosivepossessing certain novel characteristics which will first be specifically described, and then more generically pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out the invention, we employ. an exploslve agent or ingredient which explodes at a comparatively low temperature and gives off an excess of hydrogen gas which, when united with oxygen, instantly produces a large volume of steam, efi'ectlvely reducin and dampenin down the heat, flame an smoke that won d naturally be caused by the other ingredients of the compound. The presence of this excess of steam at the instant of explosion produces not only these desirable qualities, but the further important function of slowing down the action and hence-materiall increasing the heaving power of the explosion, which is very desirable in a blasting powder, especially in coal mining operations, as this slow action and increased heaving power has the desired efl'ect of loosening and throwing down the coal without shattering it into small bits, as'is the case where the explosive has a more rapid action, In combination with this steam producing element, we employ nitrate of soda, whose explosive strength is greatly enhanced by the hydrogen gas, andto these three elements should be added carbon in suflicient quantity to support combustion.

As an element or a cut possessing in a marked degree the qua ities of the first in-- gredient before named, we employ nitrate of ammonia. In case this should notbe pure, however, there might develop some free acid, which, under some conditions, might render the explosive not altogether safe. To guard against the presence of such acid, we add to the compound a suitable neutralizing agent, such as carbonate of calcium, carbonate of magnesia, or carbonate of soda, but preferably the carbonate of calcium, which is less expensive than either of the others, and is much more effective, as well as less hygroscopic than carbonate of soda, and is better adapted for the purpose-- than carbonate of magnesia, as it possesses greater specific gravity and is less bulky.

The nitrate of ammonia and nitrate of soda employed in the compound are hygroscopic, and of course this condition in an explosive is to be avoided. 'For that reason, therefore, we add to the compound consistfound ,to be most eflicient, and which will carry out in a maximum degree the principles of this invention, consists of the following ingredients, employed in substantially the proportions set opposite each, 2. e.

Nitrate of soda 1 48% Nitrate of ammonia 24% Carbonate of calcium 4% Brimstone 12% Charcoal 12% Total 100% The process of combining, mixing and preparing these ingredients does not, or need not, differ from the well known process of making ordinary black blasting powder, the ingredients being mixed, incorporated, pressed, granulated, dried, glazed, sifted and packed in the same or any approved wa The described formula is inexpensive and can be safely manufactured, stored and transported. It can also be granulated to suit difi'erent kinds of blasting operations or different kinds of coal to be mined, and is especially adapted for coal mining operations, inasmuch as it may be fired by means of a fuse in the ordinary method withwhich miners are familiar. The initial cost may be somewhat more than that of common black blasting powder, but it has greater strength per given quantity, and will not shatter and destroy the coal to the same exside.

tent, and it may therefore be said is more economical, as has been demonstrated by actual tests. In addition to these desirable qualities, this explosive possesses the further important quality of being sufliciently free from flame and heat to avoid the danger from the presence of explosive gases lurking in theimines, and it is almostentirely devoid of smoke and odor and consequently the .miners are enabled to start in at once to remove the coal thrown down without waiting for these objectionable fumes to sub- In order that the invention may be under stood and used by those skilled in the art,

an example of a formula for carrying. out

the invention and the particular proportions which have been found best adapted for the accomplishment of its objects have been thus specifically described, without, however, any

intention of limiting ourselves thereto, for at we claim is:

1. An explosive compound consisting of a mixture of nitrate of soda, nitrate of ammo-- nia, carbonate of calcium, brimstone, and charcoal. I

2. An explosive compound containing nitrate of soda, about 48%, nitrate of ammo nia, about 24%, carbonate ofcalcium, about 4%, brimstone, about 12%, charcoal, about 12%. v .4

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 2nd day of December A. D. 1907.

GERSHOM MOORE PETERS. MILTON FLETCHER LINDSLEY.

Witnesses:

A. M. BEOKLEY, E. R. MERCKEL. 

